Orioles' outfield seeks a boost from Payton

Free agent Jay Payton agreed Monday to a $9.5 million two-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles, who have spent much of the offseason searching for a right-handed-hitting outfielder. Payton batted .296 with 10 homers and 59 RBIs in 142 games with Oakland this year.

The 34-year-old Payton gets $4.5 million next year and $5 million in 2008. He joins left-handed batters Corey Patterson, Nick Markakis, Jay Gibbons and David Newhan in the Baltimore outfield.

MORE BASEBALL: Free agent Kenny Lofton reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year deal with the Texas Rangers worth about $6 million. The deal for the center fielder is pending a physical. Lofton, who turns 40 on May 31, hit .301 with 32 steals and 41 RBIs for the Los Angeles Dodgers last season. . . .

Reliever Darren Oliver and the Los Angeles Angels agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.75 million. Oliver appeared in 45 games for the New York Mets last season, going 4-1 with a 3.44 ERA. . . . The New York Mets will play the Baltimore Orioles in next year's Hall of Fame game on May 21, a rematch of the 1969 World Series. . . .

Reliever Jose Mesa and the Detroit Tigers agreed to a $2.5 million one-year contract. The 40-year-old Mesa was 1-5 with a 3.86 ERA with the Colorado Rockies this year. Detroit also announced its $24 million four-year deal with third baseman Brandon Inge. Inge had a strong year with a .253 batting average, 27 homers and 83 RBIs. . . .

Lee Mazzilli, replaced as a bench coach for the New York Yankees, will become the lead studio analyst for the New York Mets on SportsNet New York.

HOCKEY

No signs of GM's daughter

The search for the daughter of hockey great Bob Gainey was suspended Monday night, three days after she was washed overboard in the Atlantic during a storm while working on a sailing ship bound for the Caribbean. Laura Gainey was on the deck of the tall ship Picton Castle on Friday night when a large wave swept her overboard. Petty Officer Larry Chambers said the U.S. Coast Guard's search about 475 miles off Cape Cod was on hold, but the Picton Castle would continue looking for her.

The 25-year-old daughter of the Montreal Canadiens general manager wasn't wearing a lifejacket when thrown overboard.

Gainey won five Stanley Cups with Montreal during a 16-year career as a forward from 1973-89.

Jimmie Johnson was "horsing around" on top of a moving golf cart when he fell off and broke his left wrist, his team told the Associated Press on Monday. The version clarifies what happened during the celebrity tournament in Lecanto one day after the initial account from Hendrick Motorsports implied that the Nextel Cup champion had fallen out of the cart.

SOCCER

D.C. United trades Adu

Freddy Adu was traded Monday from D.C. United to Real Salt Lake, ending a sometimes tumultuous three-year run in Washington for the highly touted 17-year-old who clashed with his coach and was often frustrated by his role. Adu's time with Real could be short-lived. His stated goal is to play for a European club, and he becomes eligible to transfer to a club outside the United States once he turns 18 on June 2.

TENNIS

ITF honors stars

Roger Federer and Justine Henin-Hardenne were selected the International Tennis Federation's world champions on Monday.

Federer won three Grand Slam titles this season.

Henin-Hardenne reached all four Grand Slam finals this season, winning the French Open.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

'We want it to be over. We just want to move on . . . and not have to have long interviews after shootaround.'